The real world has taken Ashlie Shank away from Coupeville, but she will always be a part of Wolf Nation. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Shank, back in the day, hanging with (l to r) Brisa Herrera, Emma Smith and Sarah Wright.
Not everyone gets the finish they deserve.
Ashlie Shank should be four days away from her first basketball practice at Coupeville High School, a season away from bouncing at the line with her relay teammates, stalking track and field glory, months from walking with them at graduation.
It’s the way it should be. But sometimes real life intrudes on the fairy tale.
You can’t fault her father, Dr. Jim Shank, for accepting a promotion and moving on to a far bigger school system. It’s the life of a Superintendent, especially one who truly makes a difference at each landing spot.
But I feel for Ashlie, who arrived in Coupeville as a middle school student and began her high school journey with the CHS Class of 2019.
Over the course of her time here, as two of her older siblings, brothers Matt and Brian, graduated from CHS, the youngest child in the Shank household made remarkable strides.
She found a band of friends, or, more realistically, sisters, and Ashlie grew into a more-confident young woman, in the sports world and outside of it.
On the basketball court, her quiet intensity paid off, as she became a go-to player for the Wolf JV – one who could, and would, step up and drill a game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Take a sec and go relive the moment at https://coupevillesports.com/2015/12/11/klahowya-you-got-shanked/
Her hustle, her work ethic, her commitment, was rewarded with a varsity jersey during her junior season, when she became a swing player.
If the Shanks hadn’t moved across the country, Ashlie would walk through the CHS gym doors this coming Monday intent on winning a full-time varsity slot. And it would have been one she earned.
In the track and field world, she made it to state in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200, winning respect from her teammates and coaches along the way.
At one point, I polled CHS coaches on the best athletes they had worked with, and this is what one had to say:
I feel that Ashlie Shank is the most underrated athlete that I coached.
This girl was a sleeper and for some reason it seemed that no one expected much from her, but she expected so much from herself and worked so hard to get to where she was before she left.
She was very consistent in her times and she continued to bring them down by working hard, harder than some of the best athletes on the team.
She was essential to her relays and amazing on her own. She knew how to push herself and find new limits every day.
I wish she could have stayed so I could’ve seen her senior season but I wish her the best for her senior year.
Other than writing about her on-field exploits, I had one other interaction with Ashlie during her time in Coupeville.
It came before a soccer playoff game at Oak Harbor’s stadium, when we both ended up in the press box during pre-game warm-ups.
It wasn’t a long conversation, but it reinforced my positive impression of Miss Shank.
She came across as a bright, well-spoken young woman, highly intelligent, fiercely loyal to her friends, with a good sense of humor and a quiet strength at her core.
What I witnessed in person matches what others have said about her, and what I observed from afar at her games.
I have no doubt Ashlie will do well, wherever she is, another winner from a family which has my admiration and respect for how they conduct themselves, and what they accomplish.
Still, a part of me wishes she could have had the chance to end her high school days where she started them. Shoulder-to-shoulder with her sisters from other mothers.
So today, I want to do something, I want to make a small gesture, to let Ashlie know how much of an impact she made while she was on Whidbey Island.
How impressed we were, and are, with the strong, intelligent, highly-motivated young woman who graced Cow Town for a few years.
To remind her that even when life takes you away, you will not be forgotten.
Induction into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, with a rare few exceptions, isn’t usually granted until after you graduate.
Today, we’re making an exception.
In the end, her diploma will likely come from another school, it’s true.
But, after today, when you scroll to the top of the blog and peek under the Legends tab, you’ll find Ashlie Shank’s name right where it belongs.
One of us. Always and forever.
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